Graf Has to Go Three Sets to Defeat Kohde-Kilsch in Opening Round

Steffi Graf lost a set for only the 11th time this year, but she regained form to earn her 45th straight match victory Monday night in the opening round of the Virginia Slims tennis championships.

Graf, the world’s top-ranked player, won the last 4 games to defeat fellow West German Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, at Madison Square Garden.

In the second set, Graf went up a service break, but Kohde-Kilsch rallied to even it at 4-4 when Graf hit two straight forehands long. After holding serve, Kohde-Kilsch broke Graf again on an overhead smash to win the set.

In another first-round match, fifth-seeded Pam Shriver broke service once in each set to down Sylvia Hanika of West Germany, 6-3, 6-4.

Shriver broke Hanika in the fourth game of the opening set with two straight sizzling service returns. Shriver then held serve three times to win the set.

Shriver, ranked fifth in the world, broke to take a 4-3 lead in the second second with a backhand cross-court winner. After each player held serve, Shriver closed the 75-minute match with a service winner and a crisp backhand volley.